Combined receptacle and tray



Jan. 2, 1934. P. A. LABBE 1,941,558

COMBINED RECEPTACLE AND TRAY Filed Feb. 15. 1953 INVENTOR. 1% jzfi/zflw. 5 z

W BY aw-6% ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 2, 1934 COMBINED RECEPTACLE AND TRAY Pau A- Lahbe West Springfi l Ahplieafie Feb uary 3 Serial No. 656.817.

5 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in receptacles and is directed more particularly to improvements in a combined foldable container and tray structure,

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a structure including relatively foldable or hinged receptacle like parts adapted when olde up s fo a c n a e o games su h s ji aw uzz s eheek r an h k and Whieh m h e he o rm a her ha in upstanding sides and on which the game may be played. As a special feature of the invention, means is provided to retain the relatively hinged p t in n en l tie to facilit te t erlike structure being rigid and secure.

According to novel features of the invention, the container is of simple construction so that its mehh e r i 9 QS lY Wh at th m time it i read y elda nt a n p ion to serve its function as a tray with upstanding sides.

Va s h e features. o h inve tion wi l he r ull P t ou he e hat In the form at present preferred the invention will be d r b d n h ieh with h ac ompa g drawing, wherein:

Fi -v 1 s a pe s ective v w o h on a of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the container when open as. a tra Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing one feature of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-.-4 of'Fig. 2 showing another feature of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing, the invention will be more fully described.

The container of the invention has a pair of relatively foldable or hinged together main receptacle members 2 and 4 which are connected together for swinging movements at their rear or inner sides to aback or connecting portion 6.

The members 2 and 4 each have front and side walls, 8 and 10 respectively, which are of substantially the same height as shown. The container may be madaof various materials such as wood, metal, paper or the like. In the form of the invention shown the container is made of cardboard and in this case the parts may be made from a single piece of suitable material cut and scored so that the several component parts may be bent relative to one another and the two receptacle-like members foldable on lines such as '7 relative to the back portion.

The back or hinge portion 6 is preferably of a width equal to the total height of the said (Cl. 273-w15'7) front walls 8 of the members 2 and 4. Thus the members 2 and 4 may be folded into closed rela-. tion to form a closed container.

stiffening members or keepers 12 are provided which are arranged to slide on the side walls 10 0f t m b r 2 an The memb 12 may be of sheet metal or other relatively stiff material and are preferably of a material which is at least iheie l i i to h d t pa an 4 n op n tra o m ng l on.

e er ma ha a main p rt on adapted to lie adjacent the outer surface of the side wa s nd the po io s. 1 and s ch a shown in gex e ing re upper and lower a na edges h re f. The ns 16. re en v eeked e t e t of e. s d a s 1Q while the portions 18 are bent to underlie the bot,- tom of the hinged togc-jsther members 2" and 4, he Stifienihg memb ma b of n de i ed length.

T us the members may he m ed f m h position shown in Fig. 1, where the parts serve their function as a container, to the tray-forming position shown in Fig. 2 where the members are in open position. In the latter position, the stiffeners or keepers, 12, are adapted to reinforce and retain the members 2- 4 in a relatively fiat tray-forming position with the portions 18 thereof underlying the back portion 6. and the hinged member at their inner ends, while the. portions 12 and I6 embrace the side walls. 1 0. Thus the hinge portion 6 and the body members 2 and 4 on either side thereof are kept in the same plane and held against movement.

When serving its purpose as a tray, the walls of the container function as guides whereby pieces indicated by dotted lines 20 of a jig-saw puzzle or the like may be squared up. any event, what were the walls 8 and 10 of a container are transformed into upstanding guides or flanges of a tray. In lieu of the jig-saw puzzle shown it may be desired to use the inner faces of the members 2 and 4 for a checker board or the like which may be indicated thereon.

As before stated, when the container is folded into its box-forming position, the stiffener or stiffeners 12 are disposed on the side walls of one of the members, 2 or 4 and on the side and front walls of the other member, there may be provided flanges 11 and'13 which may be either integral parts of the walls or separate portions fastened in some suitable manner thereto.

When the container is closed, the flanges 11 and 13 are adapted to lie within the adjacent inner sides of the front and side walls 8 and 10,

respectively, of the other member, while the upper edges of the walls 8 and 10 of the two hinged members are in abutment. This is to provide a tight and rigid structure which is one of the objects of the invention.

It is desired to point out that the container may be made of a number of separate pieces and of different'kinds of material, such as metal or wood. It is important, however, for the best results that when the parts are in tray-forming position, the body members 2 and 4 and the hinge portion 6 be in the same plane.

Having described the invention in the form at present preferred what I now desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A combined tray and receptacle structure comprising, a pair of receptacle members having flat walls with their adjacent sides hinged to and integral with opposite sides of a flat hinge member therebetween, upstanding front and side walls at the marginal edges of said walls, and keepers slidable from the side walls of one of said receptacle members onto the corresponding walls of the other member when the receptacle members are in open relation whereby the members are retained in flat tray forming position, said keepers comprising a body portion to lie adjacent the outer sides of said side Walls and bent over portions extending from the marginal edges of said body portion to lie adjacent the inner sides ing flat walls with their adjacent sides hinged to opposite sides of a hinge member therebetween, upstanding front and side walls at the marginal edges of said walls, keepers slidable from the side walls of one of said receptacle members onto the corresponding walls of the other member when the receptacle members are in open relation whereby the members are retained in tray forming position, said keepers comprising a body portion to lie'adjacent the outer sides of said side walls and bent over portions extending from the marginal edges of said body portion to lie adja cent the inner sides of said side walls and the under side of said flat walls, and flanges on the front and side walls of one of said members receivable adjacent the inner sides of the front and side walls of the other member when the members are in a closed receptacle-forming position.

3. A combined tray and receptacle structure comprising, a pair of receptacle members having flat walls with their adjacent sides hinged to opposite sides of a hinge member therebetween, upstanding front and side walls at the marginal edges of said walls, and keepers slidable from the side walls of 'bne of said receptacle members onto the corresponding Walls of the other member when the receptacle members are in open relation, whereby the members are retained in tray forming position, said keepers being relatively rigid to support said walls and having portions bent over to lie adjacent the inner sides of said side walls and the under side of said flat walls.

4. A combined tray and receptacle structure comprising, a pair of receptacle members of substantially the same size having flat bottom walls with their adjacent sides hinged to opposite sides of a flat hinge member therebetween, upstanding front and side walls at the marginal edges of said walls, the said front and side walls of one of said receptacle members having portions offset therefrom to provide flange portions, and keepers slidable from the side walls of one of said receptacle members onto the corresponding walls of the other of said receptacle members, said hinge being substantially the same width as the total width of said front walls, all' adapted and arranged whereby the members may be retained in tray-forming position wherein said flat bottom walls and said hinge member are in substantially the same plane and said keepers are disposed on the said side walls of both of said receptacle members and whereby the members may be retained in a closed receptacle-forming position wherein' said keepers are disposed on the side walls of only one of said members and said flange portions lie adjacent the front and side walls of the opposite member.

5. A combined tray and receptacle structure comprising, a pair of receptacle members of substantially the same size having fiat bottom walls with their adjacent sides hinged to opposite sides of a flat hinge member therebetween, upstanding front and side walls of one of said receptacle members having portions offset therefrom to pro vide flange portions, and keepers slidable from the side walls of one of said receptacle members onto the corresponding walls of the other of said receptacle members, said hinge member being substantially'the same width as the total width of said front walls and said keepers being relatively rigid and having portions bent over to lie adjacent said side and bottom walls,'all adapted and arranged whereby the members may be retained in tray-forming position wherein said flat bottom walls and said hinge member are in substantially the same plane and said keepers are disposed on the s'aid side walls of bothof said receptacle members and whereby the members may be' retained in a closed receptacle-forming position wherein said keepers are disposed on the side walls of only one of said members and said flange portions of one member lie adjacent the'inner sides of the side and front walls of the opposite member and the marginal edges of said side and front walls of one member abut the marginal-edges of the side and front walls of the other member. I

PAUL A. LABBE. 

